Two would-be robbers who planned to fleece a Walnut Creek restaurant were out of luck Thursday night when restaurant workers refused to unlock its doors.

Customers inside the Panda Express at 2280 Oak Grove Road were finishing their meals around 10:05 p.m. and restaurant workers had already locked up the doors as they prepared to close for the evening, police said.

Two white men in their late teens or early 20s approached the restaurant and yanked on its east entrance doors, only to realize they were locked out.

One of the men aimed a silver handgun at the employees working inside and demanded entry, but the employees refused and moved out of sight, according to police.

The two men, one who is about 6 feet 1 inch tall and the other about 5 feet 8 inches tall, fled on foot through the strip mall's parking lot.

The taller, thinner suspect was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt, a white bandana that partially covered his face, dark colored pants, and a black hood. The shorter man was seen wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt, a white bandana over part of his face, black sunglasses, and dark pants.

Officers conducted an extensive search of the area with the help of a canine, but failed to locate the suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Walnut Creek police at (925) 943-5844.

— Bay City News Service

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